An improved tripod having enhanced versatility for use preferably as a stand for photographic camera or lighting equipment, wherein the legs are. variable not only with respect. to the length of each other leg. but also with respect to the angle between the legs and the support platform for the photographic equipment, and where one of the legs is independently, longitudinally movable with respect to the other two legs, the other two legs being locked together for longitudinal movement.
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1. A tripod comprising a longitudinally extending central column, the central column having a central axis, a first end and a second end, a central plate rigidly and immovably secured to the second end of the central column and having a surface extending outwardly from, and transversely to, the axis of the central column; and further comprising:
three yokes longitudinally movably secured to the central column;
three legs, each pivotally secured to one of the longitudinally movable yokes, being longitudinally, telescopically extendable outwardly from the yoke on the central column;
a longitudinal lock on each leg to lock each leg separately at a plurality of longitudinal positions;
three struts, each strut having two ends, and being pivotally secured at one end to the central plate; and
three collars, each collar surrounding and being longitudinally slidably movable along one of the legs, the second end of each strut being pivotally movably secured to one of the collars;
whereby the tripod is capable of stably supporting photographic equipment on the central column when the legs are resting on a level surface or at longitudinally different horizontal levels or on uneven surfaces.
14. A tripod having a longitudinally extending central column, the central column having a central axis, a first end and a second end, with channels extending between the two ends along the central column, a central plate rigidly, longitudinally immovably, secured to the second end of the central column;
longitudinally movable yokes movably secured in the channels, and three legs, each leg having a first end and a second end, and being pivotally secured at the first end to one of the longitudinally movable yokes secured to the central column;
a collar on each leg, each such collar being longitudinally movably secured around, and movable along the leg; each leg also being longitudinally, telescopically extending from the collar; and having locking means on each leg to lock each leg separately at a plurality of longitudinally extending positions; three struts, each strut being pivotally secured at one end to the central plate and pivotally secured at a second end to the collar on one of the three legs;
whereby the tripod is capable of stably supporting photographic equipment on the central column when the legs are resting on a level surface or a longitudinally different horizontal levels or on uneven surfaces.
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This is an invention directed to an improved tripod having enhanced versatility for use preferably as a stand for photographic camera or lighting equipment, wherein the legs are. variable not only with respect. to the length of each other leg. but also with respect to the angle between the legs and the support platform for the photographic equipment, and where one of the legs is independently, longitudinally movable with respect to the other two legs.
Tripods have been available for many, many years. They come in all shapes and sizes, to support instruments of various types, such as cameras, or small telescopes, or lighting for photography; others, generally only the larger sizes, hold surveying instruments, to elevate them to an eye-level position. Tripods, without regard to the instruments they support, usually have a central support plate and three extendable, pivotable legs, that can be shifted into greater length or leveled, or pivoted to varied angles relative to the central column. Usually the center column can be elevated, to bring the platform supporting the instrument up to a reasonable height during usage.
For many years, workers in the field have sought to expand the variability of the positions of the legs relative to the central column, while improving the stability of the—tripods, especially when used on uneven or steep surfaces. while Examples of various types of tripods can be seen in select U.S. patents. Various types of tripods and stands have long been available in the art. Some of the more current ones can be seen, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,836,508, upon an apparatus and method for securing a portable electronic device. A tripod that includes a case for holding equipment, can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,702,895, disclosing a portable archery target support. Other early patents relating to tripods can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 366,833, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,828,097, 2,899,204, a tripod like table with fastening means as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,522; a tripod supported grill as disclose in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,120,280; 5,029,765, showing a camera support stand; a target holder having adjustable legs as can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,133; and a tripod like frame support as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,172,512.
This invention provides a more versatile and improved tripod for the supporting of photographic equipment, most especially lighting equipment and cameras, on both level and on highly uneven or steeply varying surfaces, while providing a stable and secure support for expensive instruments. The improvements of the present invention contemplate constructing and enhancing tripods which are capable of providing stable support over substantially continuous angular relationships between the legs and the central column from being substantially parallel to each other to being substantially perpendicular to each other, or at least up to 85° angle from each other.
These enhancements are provided by having two of the legs preferably locked together so as to be incapable of being separately moved along the central column longitudinally, but being independently capable of being pivoted angularly relative to the third leg, and each leg being independently capable of being longitudinally lengthened or shortened, relative to the other of the locked pair. The third leg is fully independent of the other two, being capable of both independent, longitudinal movement, lengthening, and being pivotally extended over a continuous wide range, independent of the locked pair.
It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a highly stable and versatile tripod for supporting instruments for which stability is critical, such as photographic or video cameras or photography or videography lighting fixtures.
These and other objects shall become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the verbal description of its preferred embodiments, below, and the attached drawings, herewith.
In referring to the drawings:
In referring to the drawings, and in particular
A series of three or four collets of different sizes 100, 101, 102 and 103, serve to lock the telescopically extended central column portions at the desired extension levels. The telescoping sections found within the main outer central column 30 (which has a polygonal cross-section) may match the shape, e.g., a hexagon, of the main outer central column 30, as shown, or each may be, e.g., cylindrical, as shown in
Similarly, the legs 41-42 may each individually be longitudinally extended and locked to a desired length utilizing the collets 42 including a closing and opening handle 44 as depicted in
The central plate 80, as depicted in
The advantage of the present invention is shown by the many positions the legs 40-42 can stably maintain as shown in the several drawings of
Many different variations of the joints between the legs and the struts, for providing for the elongation or shortening of the legs, the elongation or shortening of the central column and the locking of such telescoping sections are possible without losing the advantages of the present invention.
The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below, the various modifications and alternative designs for the collet locking means, the yokes and the slide can be made without moving outside scope of the present invention the specific embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but are described as exemplary of the full scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the following claims.
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